Shopping - Quick and Easy Foods!

Welcome to the Missouri WIC Participant Nutrition Education website. If you are a WIC participant, please enter your name and State ID number. Type the Household ID if more than one family member is a participant.

* Required Fields

* First Name:

* Last Name:

WIC ID #:

Household ID #:

* WIC ID or Household ID are required

Learning Objectives:

You will be able to identify the advantages of planning grocery shopping trips.

You will name one task you will work on to simplify grocery shopping.

Hate Grocery Shopping? You're not alone. What are some of the problems that make grocery shopping difficult?

Children are whiny and difficult to control

I always forget something

Food is expensive

Label-reading is too complicated

Food stamps do not cover all my needs

Cashiers always hassle me about WIC checks or food stamps

I don't know how to chose fresh produce

How do I know a piece of meat will be tender?

Making Shopping Easier

Go with a grocery list - start with a grocery list (print out handout). Individualize the one attached for your family, check what you have on hand against your list, write down what you will need. Take the list to the store. Recheck the list before leaving the store.

Before you finalize your list:

Ask the family what they want to eat: Has it been awhile since you had meat loaf? Are you ready for a main dish soup or salad? Does an older child or significant other have a meal they could prepare? Put a few of these ideas on your grocery list!

Check the grocery store flyer for sale-priced items. Purchase ahead on non-perishable food items like canned meats, vegetables, fruits and soups if you have storage space.

YOU WILL GO TO THE GROCERY STORE LESS OFTEN IF YOU SHOP WITH A LIST AND DO SOME PLANNING AHEAD. YOU
WILL ALSO SAVE MONEY BY DOING SOME PLANNING.

HINTS:

Go shopping after you have eaten.

Shop at a time when children are in school.

Trade baby-sitting with a neighbor, relative or friend so you can shop alone.

Shop at the same store most of the time.

Coupon clipping can save dollars, but only if you need the item.

Routinely serving vegetarian meals saves money and is healthy for your family. Try a vegetarian meal every other week to start with: work up to once a week, then more often. When you serve meat, keep portions about 3-4 ounces (4 hamburger patties per pound) at the most, fill up on bread, starches and vegetables.

Crock Pots are handy. Assemble ingredients the night before, refrigerate overnight, then turn on unit and leave for work. The food will be ready when you get home. Just add a vegetable, bread and beverage

Prepare marinade by combining oil, catsup and seasonings. Pour over steaks in shallow pan. Cover and set in refrigerator for several hours. Place steaks on grill or broiler, turning and brushing with leftover marinade, about 2 minutes per side.
Serves 6.

The wok was developed to use very little fuel, so its heat is intense, but fast. Try our easy recipe; finish with the rest of the menu. (A regular fry pan can be used as well as the electric version of this appliance.)

Keep these hints in mind. If you are already using some - that's great! – Try another of the above ideas!

1. Will you try any of these recipes?YesNo

If so, which one?

2. Would you like to share any of your favorite recipes?

Choose the best answer.

* 1. Coupons always save money when shopping.TrueFalse

* 2. Using a list for grocery shopping will save money, shorten the time spent shopping, and means you are less likely to forget an item.TrueFalse

* 3. Picking up a few groceries on the way home from work saves time and money.TrueFalse

* 4. You will spend less money when you shop without children.TrueFalse

* 5. Produce is usually less expensive when it is purchased “in season”.TrueFalse

* 6. Buying a side or quarter of beef saves money.TrueFalse

* 7. Cutting back on meat is a healthy cost-saving measure.TrueFalse

8. One new idea I will try to make shopping easier is:Only save coupons on products I need.Do some planning by using a master grocery list.Make arrangements to shop when I can go alone.Read the grocery sale flyer.Write menus each week to aid in grocery shopping.Ask for information about when produce is in season.Talk to the butcher if I am unsure whether a cut of meat will be tender.Use more of a variety of kitchen appliances that save time.